HR Leadership Series with Eskom Chairperson. The HR department hosted the Eskom Chairperson, Mteto Nyati, who delivered a keynote address entitled "Leading Through the Storm: Navigating Crisis and Building Resilience." 24 April 2025. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) recently hosted the Chairperson of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, Mteto Nyati, as keynote speaker for its HR Leadership Series under the theme, "Leading Through the Storm: Navigating Crisis and Building Resilience." His timely address in late April came just hours before Eskom again announced the return of loadshedding.

This interruption continues to frustrate millions of South Africans and underscores the deep-rooted challenges the country’s power utility faces. It was a moment that made Nyati’s words all the more urgent, especially as he unpacked the realities of crisis leadership in the public sector.

In a candid and reflective talk, Nyati offered an insider’s view into Eskom’s recovery efforts, acknowledging progress and ongoing shortcomings. “We had a two-year plan—ending in March 2025—and we’ve been laser-focused on implementing it,” he said. “There are two or three items still outstanding. Until those are completed, we cannot say loadshedding is behind us.”

His remarks revealed the complexity of restoring stability to the power grid and the broader issue at hand: a national struggle with effective implementation.

“This is one thing we are poor at, as South Africans—implementation,” he said. “We are so good at dreaming and dreaming of policies and coming up with strategies—the best. We are the best at that. But implementation—we are not good.” These words resonated deeply in a country where energy insecurity has become both a personal inconvenience and a national economic threat.

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Balfour Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

Nyati’s lecture also touched on how leadership must adapt in times of crisis—whether at Eskom, in government, or at public universities.

He stressed the importance of engaging stakeholders meaningfully, maintaining transparency, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. These lessons, he noted, are essential not only to Eskom’s turnaround but to every institution entrusted with the public good.

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Balfour spoke to the University’s role in modelling ethical leadership, especially during uncertain times. “We are very much in the public mind and public audience as an institution devoted to the common good,” Prof Balfour said.

“Not only the development of our students and the nurturing of our staff, but contributing in powerful and significant ways to society.” He added, “If indeed we want to live by a set of values, if we want to affirm how important integrity is in public service, then the University is the right place where that should happen.”

UWC’s HR Executive Director, Meko Magida and Chairperson of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, Mteto Nyati. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

UWC’s HR Executive Director, Meko Magida, thanked Nyati for his leadership. “You played a role in restoring, building, and renewing Eskom. Under your guidance, Eskom has begun a journey towards regaining public trust,” said Magida.

“Your emotional intelligence through the midst of crisis has offered resilience and assurance—not only to institutions' heads, but to a country in search of stability.”

UWC reaffirms its role as a national renewal and institutional resilience catalyst by hosting the leadership series. At a time when South Africa faces mounting challenges in governance, energy, and ethical leadership, the University is creating opportunities not just to analyse the storm, but to chart a course through it.